A United Methodist minister's musings on faith, culture and just about anything or anybody that strikes his fancy.

A nite owl special for you from st scholastica

A PRAYER BY JOYCE RUPP FOUND LATE IN THE WEE HOURS IN A BOOK OF SERMONS, WRITINGS & SAYINGS BY MEISTER ECKHART, THE MEDIEVEL MYSTIC AND GERMAN DOMINICAN PRIEST (1260-1327), HERE AT ST SCHOLASTICA MONASTERY IN THE MERTON LOUNGE AND LIBRARY—-A VERY WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE IN THE WEE HOURS WITH GOD AND ALL THESE BOOKS AND THE PRAYERS YOU FIND IN THE BOOKS AS BOOKMARKS.

HERE’S MS. RUPP’S PRAYER, “THE HEART OF COMPASSION”:

COMPASSIONATE GOD, YOUR GENEROUS PRESENCE IS ALWAYS ATTUNED TO HURTING ONES. YOUR LISTENING EAR IS BENT TOWARD THE CRIES OF THE WOUNDED. YOUR HEART OF LOVE FILLS WITH TEARS FOR THE SUFFERING. TURN MY INWARD EYE TO SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE. I AM PART OF ALL LIFE. EACH ONE’S JOY AND SORROW IS MY JOY AND SORROW, AND MINE IS THEIRS. MAY I DRAW STRENGTH FROM THIS INNER COMMUNION. MAY IT DAILY RECOMMIT ME TO BE A COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE FOR ALL WHO STRUGGLE WITH LIFE’s PAIN. AMEN.